On January 12, 2010, Haiti was struck by a devastating earthquake which claimed the lives of at least a quarter of a million people and laid waste to entire cities. Also devastated by this catastrophe was the national seminary in the capital, Port-au-Prince, the only seminary in the country. Six theology students, eight philosophy students and one professor lost their lives, while many of the buildings were completely flattened, including the chapel, the refectory and the library. But 243 of the seminarians managed to survive the earthquake.

"When I think that the entire community could well have been in the chapel at the time of the earthquake, it sends shivers down my spine," the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Erzbischof Bernardito Auza remarked at the time to the Fides news service. "That would really have been a terrible loss." And he added, "Those who were buried under the rubble were for the most part able to free themselves. The rector was in his office on the ground floor of one of the buildings at the time. His office no longer exists, but the rector himself was unhurt and cannot himself remember how or in what way he managed to get out. He says that Our Lady must have led him."

Despite everything, the seminary was able to resume its activities just a few weeks after the catastrophe, though in tents this time. ACN has helped this struggling seminary a number of times following this terrible catastrophe, so that the nearly 250 young men still training there for the priesthood can continue to pursue their vocation. Most recently, the rector asked us for help to purchase a jeep, some breviaries and some solid bookshelves for the philosophy department. The vehicle was needed for transporting provisions for the seminary and for taking sick seminarians to the doctor, since there is no public transportation. The bookcases are needed so that the library can be re-established, and the breviaries are vital for the spiritual life of the seminarians.

ACN has provided $8,100 for some solid metal bookshelves, $4,000 for the cost of the breviaries and $39,700 for the purchase of a jeep. The rector and all the seminarians want to say thank you to all our generous benefactors, not only for your donations but also for your prayers, and they, in turn, are praying for you!

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